Defining a Function

Steps in defining functions

The Functions tab is added to the Script Editor to define a new function.

1. Add a new function by selecting the Functions tab displayed in the Script Editor. The New function dialog will be displayed, as shown in the screen-shot below. Specify the function name, namespace, return type and arguments, if any, to be passed to this function.
   • Function name: Name is the identifier by which it will be possible to call the function. Any meaningful name without white spaces can be specified as function name. The name must not contain any white spaces.
   • Namespace: Related functions can be grouped under a name based on their purpose, for easy maintanance. Any meaningful name without white spaces can be specified as namespace.
   • Return Type: Return type is the data type specifier of the data returned by the function. If no data is returned by the function, the return type must be specified as void.
   • Arguments (as many as needed): They allow to pass parameters to the function when it is called. Each argument consists of a data type specifier followed by an identifier, like any regular variable declaration (for example: int a) The different parameters are separated by commas.

   For example, let us create a simple function to display a number. Specify the function name as display. Since this function does not return any argument, the return type is void. Argument a of type int, will be passed to this function, when called. Create the function by selecting the Create the Function button.

2. The function display will be added to the Functions tree under the namespace test, as shown in the screen-shot below. Select the function from the Functions tree and add the required deluge statements to be executed, using drag-n-drop or Free-flow scripting. For example, we add the Deluge statement Info to display a given number. Select Save Script to save the function.
   

   You can use the Execute Script option to test if your function is executed as defined, by specifying the required values as arguments to the function. For example, to execute the display function, we specify a value for the argument (int a). On submit, the Info input.a deluge statement is executed , as shown in the screen-shot below:
   

   Note:

   • Select the Write Script option to define a function by directly writing or pasting the script code in the Functions dialog, as shown in the screen-shot below:
     

   Adding form object as argument to the function

   Zoho Creator supports Form Objects that can be passed as argument to a user-defined Function. A Form Object represents a collection of records in a Form. Refer the topic Passing Form object as argument to the function, for more information.

   What is name space?

   In the screen-shot given below, Calculations is the namespace that groups similar functions related to calculations. Here, CalculateDays, CalculateHours etc are function names. If the function is called within the application where it is defined, the namespace will be appended with the word thisapp. If the function is called from a different application, the namespace will be appended with the actual application name, where it is defined.

   For example, if the function CalculateDays is called from the Sample application, the function call will be in the following format: thisapp.Calculations.CalculateDays(),

   where,

   - thisapp refers to the current application,
   - Calculations is the namespace,
   - CalculateDays is the function name.